Baby monitors have become a must-have for modern parents, offering peace of mind and a chance to peek in on your little one without disturbing their rest. (This is my personal favorite right now) Many of these monitors come equipped with a talk back feature, allowing you to speak directly to your baby or toddler through the monitor. At first glance, it seems like an easy way to soothe your child without stepping into their room.

But before you hit that button, let’s talk about why less is often more when it comes to baby and toddler sleep. Here are two reasons why using the talk back feature might not be as helpful as it seems—and what to do instead for better results.

 

Reason #1: It can scare your child

Picture this: You’re lying in a dark room, trying to fall asleep, and suddenly you hear a voice speaking to you—yet there’s no one around. Spooky, right?

For many babies and toddlers, hearing a disembodied voice through the baby monitor can feel just as unsettling. They might not understand where the sound is coming from or why they can hear you but not see you. Instead of calming them, the talk back feature can create confusion or even fear, making it harder for them to settle down.

Young children thrive on connection, but that connection is often strongest when it’s face-to-face. If your child needs comfort, consider physically going into their room instead of relying on the monitor. A reassuring touch or your calm presence can be much more effective than an unfamiliar, out-of-context voice.

 

Reason #2: It sets an expectation for immediate responses

Using the talk back feature can unintentionally create a new sleep challenge: the expectation that every time your child stirs, they’ll hear your voice right away.

This can quickly lead to a cycle where your child begins to wake more frequently, expecting interaction each time. While it may seem harmless at first, it can escalate into a habit where your little one starts "chatting" with you through the monitor during the night, rather than self-settling back to sleep.

Consistency is key to helping children develop independent sleep skills. When you avoid the talk back feature, you’re teaching your child that nighttime is for rest—not for conversations, negotiations, or back-and-forth interactions.

 

What to do instead

If your child truly needs comfort in the middle of the night, it’s better to go into their room and soothe them directly. A brief visit where you calmly reassure them with your presence and words can work wonders without adding confusion or creating new habits.

A few tips for in-person reassurance:

• Don't rush right into their room. Instead pause, listen, and see if they can resettle without you first. Delaying gratification is key with habitual wakings.
• Keep the lights dim or off to maintain a sleepy atmosphere.
• Use a gentle, soothing voice to reassure them.
• Keep interactions brief to avoid overstimulation.

This approach not only provides the connection your child needs but also gives them the space to fall back asleep without, build confidence in being alone in their room, and helps reinforce healthy sleep boundaries.

 

Need extra support?

If you’re looking for additional tips and resources to tackle bedtime struggles, I’m here to help! Check out my Toddler & Preschooler Sleep Resources here and find my various free and paid resources designed specifically for children aged 2 to 5. Together, we can sort out those sleep woes and get your family back on track for peaceful nights! 

 

 

 

Join me as I break down 8 sleep sacks for your tall child. It can be hard to find sleep sacks that are long enough for your toddler & preschooler but I want to help take out some of the guesswork for you! Let's go over these longer options on the market today and I'll help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.

 

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy and disclosure statement for more information.

 

Sleep sacks from shortest to longest:

Mosebears Sleep Sack 18-24mo

Pros: Inexpensive, priced at $28.

Cons: Have snaps at the shoulders that little escape artists can easily undo themselves, currently only available in 2.5 TOG, the shortest of the long sleep sacks.

Personally, after reviewing this one, I would not recommend it to clients. There are just too many better options out there!

Yoofoss Sleep Sack XL

Pros: The cheapest of the long sleep sack options. This comes as a 3 pack for less than $30! I love me a good deal.

Cons: The second shortest of the long sleep sacks. Not suitable for a child that is longer than 34.5in from shoulder to toes.

Zipper is down the middle and has a double zipper for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night.

 

Halo Sleep Sack XL

Pros: Medium length, average cost at $30 per sleep sack.

Cons: Not suitable if you have a child that is taller than 36in from shoulder to toes.

Zipper is down the middle and has a double zipper for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night.

Chuchu Puff Sleep Sack 2XL

Pros: One of the longer sleep sack options, currently priced at $28.99.

Cons: Not suitable if your child is longer than 38in from shoulder to toes.

Zipper is down the side and has a double zipper for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night.

Tado Sleep Sack 2-4yr

Pros: Average cost at $30.99 per sleep sack, great length at 39in. I also love the muslin material/feel.

Zipper is down the middle and has a double zipper for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night.

Kyte Baby Sleep Sack Large

Pros: One of the longest sleep sack options. Kyte baby is a reliable brand that is known for it's longevity.

Cons: A little pricier at around $55 each.

Zipper is down the side and has a double zipper for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night.

I was able to measure the size Large but there is also an XL that I did not have access to. Based on their sizing chart, it looks like the XL would give you an extra 6 inches or so in length.

Domiamia Sleep Sack 24-36mo

Pros: One of the longest sleep sack options. Average price at $29.99 per sleep sack.

Zipper is down the side and has a double zipper for easy diaper changes in the middle of the night. The feel and style of this sleep sack is very similar to Kyte Baby sleep sacks.

Woolino Sleep Sack 2-4yrs

Pros: The longest option measuring in at a whopping 42in from shoulder to toes. I had my 7 year old try it on and it fit him!

Cons: Have snaps at the shoulders that little escape artists can easily undo themselves. It is also much more expensive than all the other options above. Price per sleep sack is $129. You also should be sure, if purchasing, to follow washing instructions exactly as shrinking can be a common issues.

 

 

To wrap up, I would vote the follow sleep sacks as my favorites:

Domiamia is my favorite if you need an inexpensive long sleep sack. Yoofoss is the best value purchase, though it's not one of the longest options of the bunch so it would work best for a low-mid height percentile child. I also really like the Tado because of the muslin material and middle zipper as well as being inexpensive and decently long.

Don't waste your money on sleep sacks that your child can unsnap themselves (if they try unzipping, you can always put the sleep sacks on backwards to prevent this).

 

Need more help than just sleepwear? Check out my resources for toddler & preschoolers:

Today's blog and podcast is all about sleepwear. Whether you've got a newborn, baby, toddler, or preschooler- we've got you covered!

I get into the details of what your child should wear to sleep, when your child should wear special sleepwear, and why! I also offer all my product recommendations depending on what stage of life you're currently in.

 

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy and disclosure statement for more information.

Click here for a quick link to your desired podcast app

Swaddles

Swaddling can be SUCH a helpful tool for newborns. Here are some basic swaddling facts you should know:

1. Swaddling is great for newborn sleep because it reminds them of the womb! Your newborn loved the womb and if we can recreate that feeling of security and snugness, it will help!
2. Swaddling also prevents your newborn from being woken up by their Moro reflex. This reflex will fully integrate around 4 months so a swaddle can be helpful in the first few months of life to make the transition from womb to world easier.
3. Like all things, swaddling should be done in moderation. It's a great tool for sleep but when awake, we want your newborn to be free to move and play!
4. For safety reasons, I recommend you transition out of the swaddle at the very first signs of rolling.
5. When swaddled, babies hips should be loose and free to wiggle.
6. The swaddling material should not be up around baby's face.

 

Swaddle sleepwear I recommend:

Summer Infant Swaddle Me

Pros: Inexpensive, easy to use

These are my personal favorite!

Halo Swaddle

Pros: Easy to use, can also be used as a regular sleep sack once you're done swaddling

Cons: More expensive

Love 2 Dream

Pros: Good option for babies who hate swaddling

Cons: Most expensive

Swaddle Transition

Did you know there are several swaddle transition products that are designed to help you stop swaddling? Let's break them down below and if you need more specific help with that transition out of the swaddle- check out this blog too: How to transition out of the swaddle

 

Swaddle transition sleepwear I recommend:

Magic Merlin Sleepsuit

Pros: Very helpful if your baby still has a strong Moro reflex

Cons: Shouldn't use for very long because they prevent baby from rolling around and getting comfy. 5 months is the oldest I prefer to see babies in these suits.

Halo Swaddle to Sack

Pros: If you used this swaddle for you newborn, you can simply wrap the velcro piece around their chest while letting the arms be free! Get double the use out of this swaddle!

Zipadee Zip

Pros: Unique star fish design makes for an easier transition from the swaddle. This can also be used long term for many months so you'll really get your money's worth.

These are my personal favorite!

Sleep Sacks

Sleep sacks function as a wearable blanket. Since we don't want anything in the crib with baby (no blankets, pillows, etc.) these are a great way to give them that extra "blanket" layer while also keeping them safe. Plus, babies don't know how to keep a blanket on all night anyways!

These can also be great deterrents to keep your toddler from climbing out of their crib. Typically with one of these on they will not be able to hike a leg up and climb out.

Last thing I want you to know is that while sleep sacks are great tools, they are NOT a necessity for good sleep. You don't have to ever use a sleep sack if you don't want/need to!

Sleep sack sleepwear I recommend:

Merlin Dream Sack

 

Carters Sleep Sack

Pros: Inexpensive, can often be found on clearance at Kohl's! Any sleep sack will do. Please don't feel like you need the fanciest of the fancy. 🙂

Zipadee Zip

Pros: Can be used well past the swaddle transition phase up to 24 months!

These are my personal favorite!

Toddler & Preschooler Sleep Wear

Once your child outgrows traditional sleep sacks, there are still options for keeping them warm at night. Many toddlers and preschoolers won't be able to effectively use sheets and covers until older so it's best to avoid that pitfall of repeatedly fixing their covers overnight and instead just use one of these sleepwear options below! For a more in-depth review of the longest sleep sacks I could find, see this blog here.

 

Toddler/preschooler sleepwear I recommend:

Halo XL Sleep Sack

Pros: Still trying to keep your toddler safely in a crib? These fit up to 40in and up to 36lbs!

Flying Squirrel

Pros: Still get that cozy feel of a sleep sack- but with the feet free! Comes in sizes up to 5T.

Halo Walker

Pros: Still get that cozy feel of a sleep sack- but with the feet free! Comes in sizes up to 5T.

 

Need more help than just sleepwear? Check out my resources for every age below:

How to have a life with naps... you might be surprised by our advice! We chat about managing expectations for naps on the go, the 80/20 rule, and we give you permission to do whatever works best for you and your family!

 

Relevant product links for napping on the go- https://allthesleeps.com/productsilove/

 

Click here for a quick link to your desired podcast app

Hi everyone and welcome to Sleep Talking Moms. Today we are going to talk about something that I don't know I feel like people get a little riled up about sometimes, but also necessary, very necessary. So yeah, we're going to talk about how to have a life with naps. And you may not like me and Kayla's perspective on this and that is okay. We don't get into this. We're very similar in how we think about this subject. But we know that it is not for everyone and that is 100%. Okay, so if you listen to this and feel like we're psycho, that's that's okay. You don't hurt our feelings. Not at all. And I am kind of sorry that we both came about our how we were gonna handle naps. The same way cuz I would have been much more helpful if one of us was one way or the other was the other but we have open minds about Whichever way you choose to parent just like anything else. So you gotta do it. You got to do absolutely.

 

And I guess just to you know, get the cat out the bag. When it comes to having a life with naps. Me and Kayla err on the side where we would just much rather have good naps and we don't care so much about having a life when our little ones are little and still need lots of naps. So we would 100% Choose sleep and reliable sleep and breaks during the day over being able to go around and do different things and see people and have a social life or have activities. That is that fair. Kayla, would you agree? That is very, very fair. Yes. And if you guys listen to the last episode, you will know that Carianna and I were basically squares our whole life and we sleep so there are a lot of times where we were choosing to not be social because it was a fun time. So we get it honestly. And you know I I know that it gets harder to when you have like when you have more than one child so maybe you have one that's a toddler or older who just has one nap a day at you know one reliable time or maybe they're done napping and then you have the baby who's still on 234 naps and you know, you feel bad like well, I won't be able to take my toddler out and do things I have been there.

 

Okay, well I know your experience has been a little different because that phase for you. With your kids has been during COVID. So you couldn't go anywhere even if you wanted to. Yes, yeah, right. It was kind of a gift. In a weird roundabout way. I'd never like of course, I don't want what's happening to be happening. But to have a little baby and a toddler at the height of the pandemic where we couldn't go anywhere and we were on lockdown. It was like, oh, okay, cool. Well, I guess this is what we're doing. And so our big trips were trips to the farmyard. Which are good trips, good trips. Yeah. Yeah. And when my boys were younger, and Tim was a baby, and Ethan was, you know, in the two to three range. I'm not gonna say that. We never went anywhere for Ethan to do things, but they were pretty few and far between. And I probably waited more until Campbell my younger one was on a to nap schedule. Just because two naps gives you more time in between naps to get an outing and get back home before nap time. So that's kind of our personal experience, but you can absolutely have a toddler and have a baby and do things and still have successful naps. So I don't want you to take away from this, that it's not possible. I do want you to be just kind of cognizant of your individual child because I do find a lot of this is child specific. Some are gonna be super super sensitive to having their nap schedule messed up or to having you know, a nap on the go. They're gonna be really sensitive to that not going to go smoothly. And some parents can just like they know okay, if we have a rough nap day, we're expecting a couple night wakings tonight.

 

So if you find out that that's your kid, it doesn't mean you can't go anywhere but it does mean you're going to want to kind of weigh your options more and decide okay, which is more important to me if I can't have my cake and eat it too. You know, am I gonna choose staying in more to respect these naps or am I gonna choose going out and just accepting you know, the cards I've dealt with because of it. And on the flip side, there are some kids who are so chill and easygoing that they'll have to sign for you on the go if their schedules messed up and they miss an app or two during the day, they're not going to be a rep that night, they're going to be just fine. So you kind of have to experiment a little and get to know your child and know that not all children are the same in this respect. Yes. And we're also kind of giving you guys a free pass to if you feel like I can't handle the stress of not like not going and doing things because my kids sleep schedule is so important. We give you full permission to be a square like if you need that because your stress level is too high juggling all the things that you have to juggle then don't feel like you have to do anything.

 

But also if there are those things that pop up things that you want to do realize that it's you're gonna have a messed up day, and then just resume business as usual. The next and it will it will be okay. Yeah, absolutely. And I have parents a lot ask me, like, if I go out, you know, when we you know, take take my child to the library and we don't get home in time for nap. Is this going to ruin everything and start us back at square one? No, it's not going to ruin everything. Now if I'm specifically working with a family who is going through the sleep training process, I'm going to recommend you don't do those things for a limited period. of time where we are just focused on learning. But after that period of time, you're never going to go all the way back to square one. You may like a well said have a rougher day but it's not going to set you back at zero as far as sleep and every all the routines and habits that you've created for them not gonna start you back at square zero. All right, so like what we've kind of been talking about with like, if you want your cake and eat it too, all of that stuff when it comes to to naps and having a life I've heard of I think I've heard you talk before about the 8020 rule. But what is that?

Yeah, yes, the 8020 rule. And you've probably heard this about other aspects of life too. It's a pretty common phrase. I'm sure our listeners have heard the 8020 rule. When it comes to sleep and naps is 80% of the time. We want to aim for naps in the ideal environment and at the right time. 80% of time, that's kind of our goal. And then 20% of the time if we're off track and the nap has to be in a non ideal environment in the car or in the stroller and at a non ideal time. Maybe they're skipping the nap. That's okay, so we can kind of find that 8020 balance. That's what's going to help them to not be so thrown off by nap disruption and changes that they're miserable but also gives you as a parent freedom to go and do things here and there. And when we do have to have naps on the go, you know, there are definitely things we can do to help improve the quality of those naps. Things like taking white noise with you and you know, if they're in the car seat, you're driving around and they need to be napping, you know, putting the white noise back there by them or I've had parents play it through the Bluetooth system in their car so the whole car is white noise.

 

I also put a blanket in the window to get it to start doing possibly can but that's a good that's a good idea. And another option you can do I don't know if you guys have heard of SnoozeShade it is like a black they make one for strollers and for car seats a cover that so it kind of creates that dark environment that very, very dark environment. So those are good options as well to kind of recreate the ideal environment. I've had a lot of families by this new shade if their schedule kind of makes it so as as they're driving home from daycare, if they have a bit of a commute. They know that that's when they need their third nap of the day to happen is on that drive home. And so they will just always have that white noise in the car. Had their sushi and the child just snaps for that 20 or 30 minute ride home. So definitely things we can do to make naps better on the go.

 

But the other thing I want you to just kind of grab onto and accept is that naps on the go are never going to be as good as naps at home in their ideal environment. And I think we get we get fixated on that like oh I want them to be able to nap while on the go. That's just not how humans are built. I don't know about you okay, what do you nap well in a car as well as my bed? No, yeah, you can do it. And it's better than you know. No sleep, right? Yeah. But yeah, it is not going to be that ideal sleep. It's not going to be as good a quality just like you may not sleep as well in a hotel room outside of your usual house and bed or you may not sleep as well at your in laws house. Babies are the same way. And so we can't expect them to nap to the same level of sleep as they do when they're at home in their perfect environment. And one thing I just want you guys to remember is that this you know having no life or having a life that's disrupted by sleep schedules for kids. Even conflicting sleep schedules for kids. I remember that very well. I remember, you know, like, Ellis would wake up or else would be awake. I put tiny down I put Alice down for his nap. And then my little one would get up and just being like, I don't have a single solitary second to myself this whole day. Probably added some expletives and that's intense.

 

Just like anything else, this is not gonna last forever. At some point your kids are you know, like, my youngest is two now he has one nap. I was in for quiet time. Like at some point it does all kind of come together. They won't have naps forever. So it's gonna suffer a little bit and then it's gonna be totally fine. But you'll have a well rested kid. And hopefully yourself will be you'll be well rested too. So hang in there. Yeah, I think that's a really important reminder. Because when you're in it, you know, it can feel like oh my gosh, I haven't gone anywhere for months, but in the scheme of our child's life. It is such a small, small point in time when we just have so many naps and I remember those days to Kayla, I think the worst is when you have one kid on to naps and the other kid on one nap because there is just there's literally almost no overlap. Yeah, and you're just like nap. Okay, next nap. Okay, next nap and then it's dinnertime and you're like, I haven't. I haven't had any time by myself at all. Yep. Or like you have like 15 minutes between you're like, should I get a quick workout? Should I do the dishes? Should I just sit like yeah, it's not fun. It's not but what happens because of that good sleep can be fun. So it'll get there it'll get there.

 

Well, I hope that this podcast didn't feel like a downer for you if you were hoping for like some quick fix. Yeah, quick because you guys know we don't think quick fixes exist in parenting. I so wish they did but they just don't but I hope that the commiseration helps and just that if you view sleep the same way that we do and you're cool with like, Yeah, I'd rather stay home and just have good sleep. You're not alone. And I will also tell you even though Kayla and I can't relate if you're someone who's like you know what, I just need my baby to be on my schedule. I know plenty of people that that works just fine for so there's no shame in that game either. And be sure guys to stay tuned this week on Instagram and Facebook. I'm gonna be talking more about how to do naps on the go ways to make it work for you. So stay tuned for more info and thank you for joining us. Thank you guys have a good week.

In my years working with families through their sleep issues, I’ve discovered that many don’t know the basics of safe sleep. There's a lot of conflicting info out there and, let’s be honest, safe sleep rules are a little confusing! I’m going to break down the basics of safe baby sleep here as well as providing some great resources for you to do more digging.

 

Why is safe sleep important?

But first! Why does it matter in the first place? Safe sleep reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep related deaths like accidental suffocation & strangulation in bed (ASSB). In 2018, the CDC stated that there were about 3,500 of these sleep-related deaths in the U.S. per year.

 

Safe sleep matters. Even one death is one death too many. As you read further about safe sleep here and in other places, you may see some people claim that they didn’t follow safe sleep and their baby turned out just fine. You may even have experienced that yourself with a previous child.

 

This is called survivor’s bias and it does not make unsafe sleep safe. Take this car seat analogy as an example: When our parents were kids they didn’t have to sit in car seats and they obviously turned out fine and lived to tell about it. But now we know better so we do better. Same with safe sleep.

ABCs of Safe Sleep

Let’s get down to the basics so you can be informed and make the safest decisions for your family.

A is for Alone

Your baby should always sleep alone. Not with adults, siblings, pets, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or any other items. This also means that if you are holding your sleeping baby and there is even the slightest chance that you might fall asleep too, you need to transfer your baby before that happens.

 

B is for Back

Your baby should always be placed on their back for sleeping. Once your baby can roll, you should still start them on their back, but if they roll to their tummy or side, it is safe at that point to leave them be.

 

C is for Crib

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib/bassinet/playard. These spaces have been tested and meet the necessary safety requirements and are flat & firm surfaces. If an item is not labeled as a crib, bassinet, or playard, it has not met these standards and is not safe. If an item is labeled as a crib, basinet, or playard, you should still check that it's met these minimum safety standards: 

Bassinet/Cradle​: ASTM F2194, 16 CFR 1218

Playard​: ASTM F406-13, 16 CFR 1221

Full Sized Crib​: ASTM F1169-13, 16 CFR 1219

Non-Full Sized Crib: ASTM F406-13, 16 CFR 1220

If this information isn't readily available on the product's website, you can always reach out to the manufacturer to double check.

Words & items to be on the lookout for when spotting unsafe sleep products:

• Nests
• DockATots
• Co-sleepers
• Swings
• Sleepers

 

 

 

These are places that you might place your baby while awake and supervised, but should not be used for sleep.

 

I often get these questions:

1. What if they are asleep but I’m watching them? Unfortunately, sleep and death look very similar to a supervising parent so it is much safer and smarter to move your child to a safe sleep space if they fall asleep.
2. What if I use these unsafe sleep products but also use a baby breathing monitor? Doesn't that make it safe? The answer is still no. Relying on an unregulated piece of technology in order to practice unsafe sleep is not a good idea in any case.

Preventative vs Protective Factors

You’ve likely heard other things you can do to create a safer sleep environment so I wanted to break down preventative and protective factors.

 

Preventative factors are the ABCs that we mentioned above (Alone, Back, Crib). These are things that directly reduce the risk of SIDS and ASSB. 

 

Protective factors are things that can help. But it's important to understand that NOT using these protective factors does NOT increase the risk of SIDS.

Protective factors include:

Room sharing (not to be confused with bed sharing, which is unsafe)

Pacifier use

Breastfeeding

 

Again, these factors are protective which is the equivalent of wearing your seatbelt. Wearing your seatbelt will not prevent a car crash but it can help in the event of a car crash.

 

More Resources

I highly recommend checking out this great nonprofit which has additional resources https://www.safeinfantsleep.org/. This nonprofit also runs a Facebook community which is a great place to get evidence-based safe sleep information and advice. https://www.facebook.com/groups/SafeInfantSleep

For more child-proofing at all ages, check out this blog that I contributed to called Safeguarding Your Kids At All Stages.

safe sleep basics

Above is a picture of the decibel level of different types of sounds taken from Dr. Harvey Karp’s book, Happiest Baby on the Block. Ideally your child’s white noise would be at a decibel level of 60-65. This is about the sound level of a shower running. 

When testing the decibel level of your child's white noise, you can download any number of free or paid apps that can help you. Be sure to set your phone in the crib and then turn your white noise on and set it in the usual place it will stay. This way you can get an accurate reading of how loud it will be for your baby when sleeping in their crib.

 

Do babies sleep better with white noise?

Duh! If white noise wasn’t found to improve sleep, then I wouldn’t waste my time writing a whole blog post about it! A study done testing the effectiveness of using a Lectrofan sound machine (my favorite company!) found that the participants who slept with a white noise running all night:

-Fell asleep faster (by 30%!)

-Spent less time awake throughout the night

-Had better sleep quality (by 37%!)

-And felt more rested in the morning upon waking.

The reasoning is simple. Just because you are asleep, that doesn’t mean your brain has stopped processing stimuli. Not only does white noise block out the sounds of the house around your child, but it provides a consistent, non-stimulating sound that their brain doesn’t need to wake up and notice. Basically, there’s no auditory changes that the brain is sensing and therefore, your child can stay blissfully asleep!

 

Can I just use my old smartphone to play a white noise app?

This answer is a bit more complicated, so bear with me! You CAN use an app or a Hatch rest, BUT this is not the most helpful for your child. White noise period is better than no white noise but I highly recommend springing for a true non-looping white noise machine instead of one where the sounds are stitched together. 

 

You’re probably asking, why does it matter? Here’s why:

Remember that the white noise is meant to mask any stimuli so that the brain doesn’t come to fully awake mode. But when you use an app or other sounds machines that are looping (Hatch, Homedics, Graco, etc.) they are essentially recordings of white noise being played on a loop. That means that each time the loop restarts, there is going to be slight breaks in the sound and this could actually pull your baby out of sleep!

 

But I love my Hatch!

I don’t doubt that you do, but I also know that if you are reading my blogs, you may be struggling in the sleep department and if the change was as simple as switching to true white noise, wouldn’t you want to try it? The two companies that I know of that play true non-looping white noise are Lectrofan and Dohm. I personally use Lectrofan in my house and recommend it. My two favorite products are the Lectrofan Micro2 and the Lectrofan Sound.

What if my baby gets so used to white noise that they won’t sleep without it?

Ah. I hear this often as a reason to NOT use white noise. But here’s the deal guys. If white noise helps improve your child’s sleep and they are going to be able to sleep with it a majority of the time, then it makes sense to use it. We want them to have their ideal sleep environment anytime that we can control it because we know that it will help them get more restorative sleep.

 

Also, white noise machines are extremely portable. If you’re looking for portable, I highly recommend the Lectrofan Micro2 as it can run for over 12 hours without being plugged in and is super easy to throw in your purse or keep in your car. Honestly, I can’t think of many times when you wouldn’t be able to have the Micro2 for a nap on the go!

When should I wean my child off of white noise?

Like I mentioned earlier, even most adults could benefit from sleeping with white noise so you don’t necessarily have to wean your child off! As they become older, you’ll probably notice that they become less sensitive sleepers and need it less.

If you are really set on weaning your child off of white noise though, I recommend waiting until after 3-4 years of age so that you’ve passed most of the big sleep transitions and milestones (toddler sleep, crib to bed transition, nap elimination, etc). When you get to that point, you can just turn the volume down a little bit each night until it’s gone! Easy breezy!

 

 

Wanna know more about white noise? Check out my other white noise blog: Common questions & concerns about white noise for baby sleep. And head here to see the white noise machines I personally use and recommend.

 

Do you use white noise with your children? What brand do you use?

I know you've all been patiently waiting for this list! I'm about to dish on all the products that you could ever possibly buy to improve your baby's sleep. You might be surprised by how FEW items are on my NEED list and which items I advice you not to waste your hard earned money on!

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy and disclosure statement for more information.

1. Velcro Swaddle

The velcro makes it adjustable to size and helps keep your baby from breaking out. These are often sold at Babies R Us, Walmart, Target, and Amazon for $34.99 (3 Pack). Does it get much easier than that?

2. White Noise

One of my favorites is the LectroFan Micro. In fact, I personally own 2! They are small, portable, hold a charge for 12+ hours and pack a lot of sound for their size. But honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the Lectrofan sound machines. Check them out here.

3. Crib

4. Dark Room

Ok, so this one isn't really a product  BUT I'll give you some examples of products that you can use to achieve this dark room. Again, this is a MUST people! That's why it's on the NEED list. Get your baby's sleep space DARK! Whether that is your room because you are room-sharing or your baby's own separate room, this is non-negotiable.

I often want to laugh (is that mean?) when I see beautiful nursery pictures with translucent flowy curtains. I'm sorry, but that is not reality and sooner or later those nursery aesthetics are going to be crushed with black out shades. Getting your windows blacked out doesn't have to make your nursery ugly, but it may cramp your style.

I highly recommend using BlackOut EZ Window Covers. We used them in my house, and I've even written up this lovely review and how-to HERE. We cover them with some beautiful faux wood blinds (which you'll see in the review) and the room looks amazing- and more importantly- it's pitch black.

You can also go the aluminum foil and duct tape route if that's more your style.

Okay! That's it for the NEED section. Told you it was short! Make these top 4 items a priority!

1. Video Monitor

My own personal video monitor is no longer sold, but I'm all about saving money when you can and this VTech Video Baby Monitor is a great option that gets the job done without breaking the bank.

A more expensive option is the Infant Optics video monitor. From everyone I know that's used it, I've heard nothing but amazing things! It's got night vision, room temperature display, remote pan/tilt/zoom, portable, expands up to 4 cameras, sound activated LED, and 2 way talk.

2. Pack 'N Play

If you are a family that travels often and stays with friends and family, you'll most definitely want to invest in a Pack 'N Play so your child can have their own sleep space while traveling. Most hotels keep Pack 'N Plays or cribs on hand so be sure to ask if you are staying in a hotel.

As mentioned above, many Pack 'N Plays come with bassinet attachments so you could absolutely skip the crib and go with a Pack 'N Play for the first several years of your baby's life. I see a lot of families do this when funds are tight or space is limited.

3. Sleep Sacks

I love sleep sacks for their many uses but I'll be honest, I've never used a sleep sack with my own children! They are great as a wearable blanket for colder climates, as a deterrent to climbing out the climb, and solving the issue of baby's legs getting caught in the slats of the crib. Definitely a good idea but this falls under the WANT category simply because I've survived 5 years with good sleepers and no sleep sacks! However, please remember that blankets are a no-no for at least the first year!

4. Snooze Shade

This is a WANT for the baby who will be forced to take some naps on the go due to older siblings schedules, errands that can't be rearranged, etc. The Snooze Shade can be used with your car seat to make their environment pitch black and ventilated to help them sleep on the go. Use this link to take 10% off your purchase!

5. Slumber Pod

This is a portable tent that can enclose your Pack 'N Play while traveling to give your baby that very dark environment they need in hotel rooms! Definitely recommend this for families that do lots of hotel traveling with little ones.

*Use the code ALLTHESLEEPS to take 10% off your purchase!

 

The aim of this post is to give you tips for making room sharing work for your family BUT I would be remiss if I didn’t also share this with you.

For some families, it is just too tempting to pull their baby into bed with them when they room share. If this is your family, I’d encourage you to consider if moving baby to their own room would be safer.

Yes, room sharing has protective (not preventative) benefits when it comes to the occurrence of SIDS but that is negated if you are simply pulling baby into your bed in the middle of the night or unintentionally falling asleep nursing in bed and waking up hours later still holding your baby.

 

I encourage you to do a couple things if you are considering ending room sharing earlier than the AAP recommends:

1. Give your pediatrician a quick call and get their input.
2. Check out this article, Why Room Sharing in Infancy Isn’t Necessary for Safe Sleep by Dr. Craig Canapari. He is a pediatrician, author, and the Director of Yale’s Pediatric Sleep Center so he knows what he’s talking about!

 

So, you’ve decided to continue room sharing but you are STRUGGLING with sleep, now what?

Should I let my baby sleep with a pacifier?

Have you ever found yourself cursing your baby's pacifier? Or perhaps you're on the opposite end of the spectrum and you swear by its magical powers for sleep? I'm breaking down my feelings about pacifiers as a sleep consultant. I'm not anti-pacifier but there is definitely nuance to this topic!

 

 

Professionally speaking, I believe the pacifier is a GREAT tool for the newborn stage. That sucking reflex is so strong for our itty bitty ones and the pacifiers help to calm them.

They allow nursing moms to have a break so they don't become human pacifiers, which I believe is super important for maternal mental health.

Pacifiers have also been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS, so there's that added peace of mind too!

With newborns, I always recommend following Harvey Karp's 5 Ss for soothing and mimicking the womb. The fifth S, sucking, is where that magical pacifier comes into play.

See where your child falls with my pacifier use recommendations:

0-4 months: If your newborn accepts the pacifier, USE it!

4-8 months: Take the pacifier away and apply your sleep coaching method

8-24 months: You can let them keep it if you REALLY want to but consider breaking the habit now. If keeping it, never reinsert it for them. They can do it themselves.

2-4 years: You can take it away now but it can be risky and you may lose your nap for good in the process.

 

 

Need help ditching the pacifier? Check out my Everything Page for my free and paid offerings!

 

 

 

 

 

If you already have an older baby dependent on the DockATot to fall asleep and stay asleep, apply to work with me and we can chat about the best option for you and your little one. I've helped many families remove their baby's dependence on the DockATot to sleep and I can do the same for yours!